Leader One: Who
listens to the voices of the poor? Who shares strength with
the powerless? Who
surprises with forgiveness, and makes all things new?

People: Our
Hope is fragile as an infant.

Leader Two: We call out in our longing:

People: Where
is your Power, O God? Where
is the Love that transforms our world?

Leader One: We remind ourselves of Mary's ancient song: Sing out my soul, Sing of the holiness of
God Who has delighted in a
woman, Lifted up the poor, Satisfied the hungry, Given voice to the
silent Grounded the oppressor Blessed the full-bellied
with emptiness And with the gift of
tears those who have never
wept Who has desired the
darkness of the womb and inhabited our flesh Sing of the longing of
God, Sing out, my soul!

Leader Two: Let us light this fourth candle of Advent,
a candle of Love. In its light, let us think
about our world, about wherever our God
is longing to be born in peace, in joy, in
freedom and in wholeness. In a few words, let’s
share those places with each other.

People: Share
briefly

Leader One: Let this candle of Advent Love shine in our
hearts all week and remind us to be
midwives to Christ's birth in our work for justice,
our practice of peace, our offering of
forgiveness.

Song The
Universe is Bending Sing! Prayer and Praise 88

The Universe is bending, Stretching long and stretching out, Embracing all our struggles with Gentle arms of Hope.

The Universe is bending, Stretching long and stretching out And it’s leading toward Joy and
Peace By the Clear Light of Love.

Sing Out My Soul! Advent
Four Candlelighting Service was written by the Rev. Susan A. Blain, Minister for Worship,
Liturgy and Spiritual Formation, LCM. Copyright 2009 Local Church Ministries,
Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland,
OH 44115-1100. Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this
material for use in services of worship or church education. All publishing rights reserved.